Angle Lake Station south of Sea-Tac Airport will include a 1,050-space garage, a public plaza and a 35,000 square-foot site for transit-oriented development

Sound Transit today marked the start of construction on the Angle Lake Station and parking garage for its South 200th Link Extension, which is on schedule to begin service in late 2016.

"As we integrate the services provided by our transit agencies, the Angle Lake Station and the South 200th Link Extension will be important investments in our work to meet the growing demand for bus and light rail," said Sound Transit Board Chair and King County Executive Dow Constantine, who spoke at the groundbreaking event with Sound Transit Boardmember and King County Councilmember Dave Upthegrove, and SeaTac Mayor and State Representative Mia Gregerson.

The elevated station, on its way to being the first transit station in Washington state certified by LEED (Leadership in Energy & Environmental Design), will include passenger shelters, solar-electric power, and artwork comprised of 6,000 hanging disks known as "Cloud" by artist Laura Haddad. The platform canopy will provide 14 kilowatts of solar electric power, three times more than the typical residential solar installation. In coordination with King County Metro Transit, bus infrastructure is being provided to accommodate future local transit service. The station is being designed and built by PCL Civil Constructors, Inc., which is also the contractor for the elevated guideway now under construction.

The seven-story garage will provide needed parking for transit riders in South King County. Designed and constructed by Harbor Pacific/Graham, a joint venture, the 1,050-stall facility will include a public plaza, a drop-off area for light rail users, a retail space with dedicated parking, and a 35,000 square-foot site for future transit-oriented development. "Immerse," a public art piece of delicate arcs suspended in the plaza stairwell by artist Jill Anholt, will refract light into the parking area below.

"People I talk to love light rail but are frustrated with the current parking situation. The 1,050 additional parking spots that will come with the Angle Lake Station will make light rail work better for commuters in South King County." Upthegrove said. "This station will also serve as a major transit hub south of the airport as Sound Transit works to expand Link to the Highline Community College area."

The garage and plaza are part of the 1.6-mile South 200th Link Extension approved by voters in the Sound Transit 2 ballot measure. Sound Transit broke ground on the project last year and has been working closely with the Port of Seattle and City of SeaTac on the project. When complete, service to Angle Lake Station will connect 5,400 average weekday riders to the system and provide congestion-free 40-minute rides to downtown Seattle.